Postcard Challenge week 13

After having to take a couple weeks off from Darcy's challenge, I'm back with my...or shall we say...Maggie's postcard and page. 

Maggie continues to send her drawings or paintings to Thadeus.

 
She writes:
Thadeus-
  Please let me know that you are alright. You haven't responded to the letter I sent from my Aunt's home. I had to skip my adventure to The Netherlands to care for the poor dear after her fall.
  I am having a wonderful cup of coffee here in Istanbul. Next I am off to explore the Grand Market. I know it will be a feast for the senses.
  Please write.       Warmly- Maggie

So that's why there was no postcard from the Netherlands.  

*wink*

My page has a small "mug rug" and some stained shipping tags. Maggie must have found some fun things to send home at the Grand Bazaar.

The pocket is from a chunk of altered fabric given to me by Belinda Spiwak years ago. I think it adds just the right pop of color and texture.

 

Mama's little helper tea

You may (or may not) have noticed that I have not posted anything since last Wednesday. 

I had intentions of completing projects but my back had other plans. An ice pack, ibuprofen and my chiropractor have been my friends this past week.

While sitting and icing, I've managed to finish The Help.

I like to read the novel before seeing a movie based on the book.

 And this, otherwise not comfortable, chair my friend. It has a nice firm straight back...something none of our the seating seems to provide. 

It's made of elk antlers and is over 100 yrs old. 

I want to recover it in something more interesting than what is currently on it. 

It was my Grandfather's chair. 

He traded an eye exam and glasses for it with a North Dakota Congressman or Governor in the early 1900's. 

I've heard the story both ways. 

Pretty neat, huh! 

It's definitely a conversation piece!!

The reason for the doll in the chair is to show one project that I did complete.

A tiny knit hat for Rosie.

Well my back has had just about enough sitting in front of the computer.

I'll have to go check out the rest of the Tea Tuesday links over at Kimmie's blog later.

 

Equinox

Mixed media painting on a recycled book cover created yesterday on the Vernal Equinox. 

Too late for Tea Tuesday

KNOCK, KNOCK...

HELLO... 

Does anyone still care what I have to say and share after all this time. Yikes! 

I've been keeping my screen time at a minimum lately...mostly just enjoying our unseasonably warm weather. I was too late to even have tea today.

I actually have been working on a few projects...none of them ready for viewing.

I did want to share Little J's school project though. She came up with the concept...I just had to help figure out how to make it stand alone.  

 I covered a bowl in wax paper then had her glue row after row of mini-marshmallows. After everything set up for several days I was able to remove the bowl leaving the wax paper intact.

Check out the little fire she thought up as well. Tiny rocks from the sandbox and a synthetic dyed leaf cut into "fire" smooshed into a pool of glue before placing the igloo. 

The photos don't show it but the whole works was sprinkled with a generous coating of iridescent  glitter for that "authentic" snow look.  

I'm sure everyone else has already left their links over at Kimmie's blog long ago. Stop by and see for yourself.

 

It's so nice!!!!

I have no art to share...just my giddiness over the nice weather! 

It's 81°F in Minnesota on March 16th!!! 

The funny part is that there is still ice on the lakes around here. Obviously not safe to be on but ice none the less.

Have a wonderful weekend!

I know I'm going to be enjoying the great outdoors while it lasts...being Minnesota...it could snow next week. :)

 

I'm so blue....

Well, not actually me in particular...just my book. 

I decided to put together my tip-in swap book without the final player's pages. 

It was yet another UFO in my pile that needed to be completed. It's not like I don't have another spot for those tip-ins when I eventually get them..right?!?! Right!

Thanks to Elizabeth for the handmade paper on the cover!!

My favorite part of altered books...how they look from the side. 

Wiggly, wonky pages. 

Love 'em!!

 

Spring Cleaning Tea

I'm fully armed and ready for battle. In fact, I crossed several tasks off my list yesterday. 

This is the first year that I've actually complied a master list. I think (hope) it will help me stay on task.

I haven't been feeling terribly creative lately but I think once I get the Spring cleaning done, I won't have that nagging me.

Today won't be all work though..am planning to walk to knitting after a little while. 

 

 As Kimmie mentioned in her Tea Tuesday post...now with the time change, there so much more daylight in the evening. My motivation level stays high late into the evening. Hooray for that.

What are you doing today?

 

Postcard Challenge week 10

Canada! 

Finally somewhere I've been! 

Yes! 

Darcy picked Canada this week!! 

Thadeus writes:

 Maggie,

I find myself in a quaint little town that appears as if it was plucked from the Swiss countryside. I  thought  this photo would provide good memories. It was so wonderful to see you once again face to face. The food and conversation were wonderful. Off to follow another trail.

Best- Thadeus

So the pair has met up in between their adventures. That's a new turn for them.

The page holds more goodies presumably from the trail Thadeus is following.

 

 

Breakfast Tea

 

Since we are supposed to be above 50°F today, I'm planning to walk to knitting group this morning. 

It's just under 2 miles but I felt I had better eat a little more hearty breakfast than my usual Greek yogurt.

I also wanted to show off the cup my mom gave me. It was one from my dad's collection.

 

  Isn't it pretty?! 

It has a map of Scotland on the saucer and a pretty scene with thistle on the cup.

Using this cup that he cherished makes me feel close to him.

Now I'm getting very emotional...not very Norwegian of me. :)

I'm off to visit my Tea friends blogs from Kimmie's site.

What will you be doing today?

 

Cleaning inspiration

Over the weekend I started picking up my art space. Putting it back to rights after a shameful amount of time of just moving enough stuff to get a few inches to work within. 

Of course, as I was sorting through my piles of papers, I found a blank ATC background ready to use. The stamps where also within sight so...this simple ATC was born.

Next I found this raven image and knew that I already had a pre-painted page in my Playtime AB that would likely look pretty good. When I have extra paint on my palette I paint it onto a random page in a book. Waste not, want not.

Lastly I grabbed my Nature book from the AB 101 class my friend Elizabeth taught several years ago. If you are interested she is currently teaching it again

...for FREE...

on her blog.

I'm not thrilled with the outside edge. I may go back and cover the dots or make them a little more subdued. 

I'm hoping to get my art space completely cleaned up and show some "shameful" before and then clean after photos soon. I have a knitted dishcloth order to fill before I can commit anymore time to my art. Totally forgot that they were needed by next weekend!! AGH!

Postcard Challenge week 9

Switzerland was chosen by Darcy this week. 

I thought of many options for this weeks card including a mountain chalet, a Swiss cow, chocolates...just to name a few. 

I decided that Maggie should keep sending "her" paintings as postcards as much as possible. 

I started with a piece of black cardstock. It gave the much needed depth and shadow to a two color palette. I learned this technique from watching Bob Ross painting series on our local PBS station

I mounted the finished painting on an oversized piece of white cardstock then cut it down with my deckle edge scissors. 

Maggie writes of days filled with painting and the wonderful chocolates. She slips up an mentions that she may have to let out a seam or two...how embarrassing for her. 

The stamp and tiny flag are from my Swiss friend, Margaret who is also participating in this challenge. 

She also sent me the Swiss cow ribbon and flag pick that I've added to my page.  They add that special pop of color and whimsey to the page. 

Thanks Margaret!!